Do you remember the transition of Pol Warhurst from a Blackburn Rover to a Premier League winner with Bolton? Or Dion Dublin from Manchester United to a Premier League winner?
Both were able to play in multiple positions on the field. Dublin, toward the end of his career, moved straight from center forward to center back. Warhurst, however, didn’t play in defense, staying more in the midfield to attack.
Since their time, footballers capable of playing in multiple positions have become more prevalent. Modern football demands such versatility. Being able to contribute across various positions during a match benefits the team greatly.
In the Premier League match against Fulham, before kickoff, graphics showed Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold’s position as a right back. However, during the match, he wasn’t seen in that position. Instead, he moved in as an inverted full-back and made passes from the center of the field. Liverpool aimed to change the attacking flow using the passing ability of this English right-back.
Alexander-Arnold and his counterparts aimed to control the game. He remarked after the match about his varied positions, ‘The way I see it and how I’ve been asked to play – when the ball is at our feet, I’m a midfielder, and when it’s not, then I’m a right back.’
Having a fourth player in defense caused trouble for the opposition, as in the case against Fulham for Liverpool. Attempting to create an attacking system within a man-marking system in defense, where the player pressing the ball doesn’t mark others, faced obstacles.
Liverpool played in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation. For fans familiar with advanced football, this setup is relatively straightforward. Specific roles for specific players are decided by the coach’s intelligence and strategy. For instance, what John Stones does for Manchester City and Alexander-Arnold’s role in Liverpool have differences. But swapping their positions is impossible.
Stones, after getting injured last November, made City coach Pep Guardiola say, ‘We’re in trouble.’ Guardiola knew how crucial Stones, accustomed to playing a defensive midfielder’s role, was for City. Manuel Akanji tried, but couldn’t fill Stones’ position’s complexities.
19-year-old defensive midfielder Riqui Puig is showing hope for City though. Rising from City’s academy, Puig was 11 when Guardiola took charge. The Spanish coach showcased what role Puig would play in the upcoming days. Puig has time on his side, and global clubs rely on coaches to let players understand the versatility required in different positions. Playing in various positions helps players understand what’s needed when they don’t play in their designated positions.
However, one problem arises. When a player lacks a good understanding of their position, it creates a void in the position they’ve left to take on a new role. Consider the Fulham-Liverpool match. When Alexander-Arnold moved into the center, Fulham attacked. They exploited the vacant space of the right-back position. It’s tricky for the defenders to cover the pitch, as it becomes vulnerable in a Premier League match.
In that match, only Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk made more ‘touches’ than Alexander-Arnold. Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp saw the tremendous impact Alexander-Arnold’s position switch had during the match. He believed that by playing in the center, Alexander-Arnold could contribute even more. This belief made Klopp substitute a midfielder in the second half to bring on a defender. It illustrates the coach’s trust in a player, aside from Alexander-Arnold’s two late crucial goals in the last two league matches.
However, it’s not just the defensive players who dictate the field. Hybrid wingers can set a different tempo for the team during defensive play. Their role becomes expansive in defensive play, creating space to cover and overlapping with full-backs. Football evolves in the hands of visionary coaches like Johan Cruyff, pioneers of Total Football. Players like Alexander-Arnold, John Stones prove that their coaches’ vision and tactical skills are paying off. Players like them who can command the field in various positions become a nuisance for opponents because their role on the field becomes unknown.
Future generations of footballers will undoubtedly advance this trend of playing in different positions. Such adaptability, combined with discipline, intelligence, and a wealth of skill, will be seen as a valuable asset. While Erling Haaland or Mohamed Salah are seen as golden threads in the striker’s position, players adept at various positions will be valued for their versatility in football.
